What is Traditional Highland Dress?

[Jock Scot]

I think what is difficult for some on this continent to come to grips with is the level of Scottish pride that comes with the kilt. We outwith of Scotland, at least here in the U.S., don't have a "national attire" which generates as much emotion as the Kilt does for Scots. We compare it, emotionally, with Levis and can't understand what all of the fuss is about. We equate their emotional stance about how it should be worn to us telling them how they should wear their jeans.

Instead, as I am gleaning from the emotional replies from my new friends in Scotland, perhaps we here should equate it with how another country treats our flag. For many Scots, the kilt is not just a garment, it's a national symbol and treating it with anything but the utmost respect is experienced as a slight against their national pride, not just a fashion failure.

When I visualize the American flag being chopped up, turned into nic nacs, worn as casual clothing, especially in countries other than my own, I have a much different response than when I see someone wearing Levis in a way I would not choose to wear them (bleached, purposely torn or stained etc)

Through that lens I see a much different picture.

Am I gaining on it?

Brooke

Yes Brooke I think you are getting nearer to "our" way of thinking and I for one, really appreciate you taking the trouble to try and understand where the Scots are coming from over this.Thank you.

Without, I hope, sounding patronising, the bit that you and your countrymen tend to forget is that the New World is a very young place compared with Scotland's place in the Old World. We have, say, at least another 600 to 1000 years of culture, history and traditions to carry on our backs compared to you chaps in the New World.Now in all fairness, that must take a fair bit of understanding for all concerned. In many ways you chaps have a clean slate, relatively speaking, and it is part of your young culture to question, reject if necessary, and adapt just about everything the Old World stands for and therein lies the crux of your understandable confusion.

[MacBean]

... I for one, really appreciate you taking the trouble to try and understand where the Scots are coming from over this.Thank you.
...
In many ways you chaps have a clean slate, relatively speaking, and it is part of your young culture to question, reject if necessary, and adapt just about everything the Old World stands for and therein lies the crux of your understandable confusion.

I suspect it is more complex than that as we do have history, and many here of Scots descent consider Scottish history as their own history. And why not? Some in the South may see the Jacobite Rebellions, the American Revolution, the Confederate secession (and perhaps the wild dress in Highland Games) as a continuum. Don't ask me how, I only barely understand it myself. That we have a great number of folk who have always questioned and distrusted tradition is probably true. Those who came here wer seeking opportunity for sure, but may also have been running away from their past constraints.

[macwilkin]

I suspect it is more complex than that as we do have history, and many here of Scots descent consider Scottish history as their own history. And why not? Some in the South may see the Jacobite Rebellions, the American Revolution, the Confederate secession (and perhaps the wild dress in Highland Games) as a continuum. Don't ask me how, I only barely understand it myself. That we have a great number of folk who have always questioned and distrusted tradition is probably true. Those who came here wer seeking opportunity for sure, but may also have been running away from their past constraints.

That is precisely why David recommended the excellent book Highland Heritage by Celeste Ray several pages back.

T.